CJ WATER TEMPS AND FISHING THREAD FOR FALL 2015 & 2016

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Crappie Science
by Steve Quinn....Article In IN-FISHERMAN Magazine.
For Educational Purpose only!


Crappies for the most part remain abundant in the face of sustained fishing pressure from lots of avid anglers. And while we might all like to catch bigger crappies, most are eating-size, so it’s not a critical concern. Moreover, attempts to improve the size structure of crappie populations with regulations have met with little success. Crappie spawning and recruitment have long been perplexing as well, but as long as they’re not scarce, we tend to let nature take its course.

Crappie Biology
Early in the last century, specialists in fish behavior mapped out the basic life history of our two crappie species, noting differences in behavior in reservoirs and shallow lakes, and among waterways at various latitudes. Descriptions of spawning behavior and prey preferences also were conducted, establishing the baseline of information we rely on when planning fishing strategies. Yet, new findings continue.



Read more: Crappie Science - In-Fisherman Crappie Science - In-Fisherman


Keitech USA Pro Staff

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Panfish Vision
by In-Fisherman Magazine…no author noted.
For educational purposes only!


Understanding the physical capabilities of the fish we seek plays a role in making decisions about fish location and presentation. It’s all part of the game.

Panfish, especially crappies and bluegills, tend to be sight feeders, which means they prefer to see it before they eat it. But what’s to see under 3 feet of ice and 2 feet of snow?

Light is diffuse under hard water. Scattered by ice and snow cover, light penetrates but seems to come from all directions. It’s a world without shadow, but hardly a world without light. During the day, it’s not as dark down there as logic might suggest. In fact, it can be quite bright. Even at night, panfish can sight feed under the ice in slightly cloudy to clear water, but probably require a little more help from their lateral line (which picks up vibration) in the dark.

Read more at In-Fisherman's Website Panfish Vision - In-Fisherman

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Swimbaits for Giant Crappie
by Cory Schmidt, Published in IN-FISHERMAN Magazine.
For Educational purposes only.


Not far from civilization there’s this little gem of a crappie lake—a small waterbody we call the Bee Hive. It houses some of the largest, angriest black crappies in the North. The day we discovered it 15 years ago, my friend Tom Herman and I were casting along the edge of a coontail bed, sunglassing for bass, when a wave of imposing brown blurs materialized and instantly vanished into the weed-work.

Assuming these bass-sized shapes were smallmouths, we cast 6-inch Mister Twister Sassy Shads over the deep vegetation and began reel-pause-reel retrieves. On the fifth crank, something stopped my bait in its tracks. The fish fought like a big bass, its throbbing headshakes punctuated by brief power runs below. Finally, a broad silvery flank breached the surface, while my brain attempted to compute reality. This silvery hubcap was no bass, but a gargantuan crappie stretching the tape to 183⁄4 inches. The 6-inch lure was completely engulfed.

Read More Here: Swimbait Plans for Alpha Crappie - In-Fisherman


*In-Fisherman Field Editor Cory Schmidt lives in the Brainerd Lakes, Minnesota, area.

I've tried all the swimmers that Cory used, and I also did testing for Density Tackle...You guys Know what I recommend!lol
Heck maybe if Cory used good swimmers, he would catch even more Big Fish! I think I'll send him some...and a Hat!

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A good article on Panfish Senses and triggers!





Panfish Senses and Triggers
by Doug Stange…Published in IN-FISHERMAN Magizine.
For educational Purposes only!



One concept we have long used to get anglers to consider what they’re doing when they’re fishing a lure or a bait is this: The presentation moves we make have two parts, each with different purposes. First, we work our presentation to attract attention in order to get panfish to move in close to check it out. Secondly, we manipulate the lure to trigger fish to bite.

Say we’re working a spoon vertically. We lift the lure, let it fall, then hold momentarily. The lift-fall is the attracting maneuver, while the pause usually triggers the fish. We might add twitches to the pause to further tempt (trigger) fish that have been called in.

At times attracting maneuvers also serve as triggering maneuvers. I like to fish tiny crankbaits like the #3 Countdown Rapala for panfish. Another favorite is a miniature swimbait like the 3-inch Storm WildEye Swim Shad. The realistic swimming movements of these lures attract panfish that overtake the lure from behind and eat it—attraction becomes triggering. At other times, it takes a little hitch or pause in the straight swim to get fish to bite. Or, it might take pausing the lure to let it fall to get fish to finally react.

Vision is important, but anglers often overlook the importance of vibration in this process. ...

To read More, go to Panfish Senses and Triggers - In-Fisherman Panfish Senses and Triggers - In-Fisherman






Editor’s Note: Bluegills—Biology and Behavior, by Stephen Spotte, is a publication of the American Fisheries Society, fisheries.org

[Crazy4Crappie]

Well, this is the latest in the season that I've ever fished out of my boat. I fished from 11-5 today and ended the day with 95. 94 crappie and one walleye about 16.5". Only had a couple today that made 12", but kept 8 over total over 11". Everything on swimbaits. Electric shad was the winner. It was very windy until 2 when the wind slowly laid down. Water temp was 44-45 while last week it was 41-42 so it has warmed up. I was the only boat on the lake again. I may be fishing all winter if this keeps up.

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Nice Jeff...I guess the feedbags are on...Congrats!
Thanks for the updates!

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Crappie, Barometric Pressure and Weather!


Crappies, Barometric Pressure And Weather – North To South
by Matt Straw, Published in IN-FISHERMAN Magazine.
For educational Purposes only!

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RisingPressure
Weather conditions of all types affect fish behavior. From dreaded cold fronts and soaring barometric pressure...

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“Weather changes made crappies move, especially those that included barometric pressure changes,” Bonds said. “When the pressure was changing, crappies were always on the move. It soon became obvious that rapid barometric pressure changes induced movement in the fish. I don’t know whether they sensed changes in water temperature, wind, or pressure, but they would move to a different location and hunker down until conditions stabilized.”

.......

Read the whole article here Crappies, Barometric Pressure And Weather - North To South - In-Fisherman

[CrappieDreamer]

Well, this is the latest in the season that I've ever fished out of my boat. I fished from 11-5 today and ended the day with 95. 94 crappie and one walleye about 16.5". Only had a couple today that made 12", but kept 8 over total over 11". Everything on swimbaits. Electric shad was the winner. It was very windy until 2 when the wind slowly laid down. Water temp was 44-45 while last week it was 41-42 so it has warmed up. I was the only boat on the lake again. I may be fishing all winter if this keeps up.

I sent you a PM

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Winter Crappie Forage





Winter Crappie Forage Tactics
by Gord Pyzer , Published in IN-FISHERMAN Magazine.

Sometimes it makes sense to match-the-hatch for winter crappie. A fine example is using an artificial bait that mirrors the size, shape, and color of the forage that fish are eating. But always treat this as a guideline, never as a rigid rule.

For instance, late last winter In-Fisherman Editor In Chief Doug Stange and Editor-¬Photographer Jeff Simpson met up with me to film an ¬In Fisherman television segment on a large, deep, clear, natural crappie lake. I’d kept close tabs on the fish for several weeks prior to their arrival and had harvested a few for dinner.

When I filleted the crappies, I closely examined their stomach contents. Young-of-the-year perch—about half the size of your smallest finger—were the most abundant item. Soft, gray insect larvae (likely mayfly) came in a distant second. As I landed several fish, I also noted them coughing up long, thin, threadlike bloodworms—chironomid larvae. So, I pretty much knew what was on their menu.

To read more click here Winter Crappie Forage Tactics - In-Fisherman

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More on what Panfish can see!





The Clear Connection for Panfish Lures
by Cory Schmidt | January 16th, 2014
Published by In-Fisherman


Ever wondered how fish truly perceive fluorocarbon, a line advocated for its invisible qualities? And how can panfish, trout, and other species dine on transparent prey like zooplankton if they can’t see them? Or can they?

When you examine fluorocarbon under water with an underwater camera or a dive mask, you might be surprised to see that it’s as visible and opaque as braid. But how do the fish perceive it? Does it matter?

The answers to these questions might change the way you approach fishing, or at the least, compel you to question lure selection and colors for certain species, particularly panfish.


Read more: The Clear Connection for Panfish Lures - In Fisherman